Carol Kendall Ballance Obituary
Carol Kendall Ballance, of Atlanta, lovingly known as "Mahnie" to her grandchildren and many others who adored her, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Sunday, July 6th, 2025.
Carol was born in Hammond, Indiana, on August 21, 1945. From a young age, Carol's vibrant spirit, keen intellect, and boundless curiosity set the course for a life filled with love, devoted service, cherished family, and unforgettable adventures.
After attending St. John's College, she began her career as a Delta Airlines Flight Attendant in 1965, where she met the love of her life, Delta Captain Harry Greene Ballance, Jr. The two were married at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Atlanta on June 15, 1968, beginning a nearly six-decade journey together.
Carol devoted her early years to raising their four children, cultivating a home filled with many friends, warmth, and loving chaos. In the mid-1980s, she returned to the professional world as the college advisor at Pace Academy, where she also inspired countless students as a beloved cheerleading sponsor and coach. In 2000, she returned to the skies as a Flight Attendant with Delta Airlines, and later transferred to the Delta subsidiary, Song Airlines, before retiring in 2006.
A devout Christian, Carol was an active member of Northwest Presbyterian Church, where she sang in the choir for decades and was President of Presbyterian Women, the women's community service organization within the church. She was also a member of the Session at Northwest. Carol was a talented pianist, an enthusiastic traveler, a certified SCUBA diver, a skilled water and snow skier, and a pageant queen in her younger years, including being crowned Florida's Miss Palatka 1963; a title that became both a family legend and affectionate nickname. Carol also enjoyed sailing in the Caribbean with her family, "skippering" alongside her husband, who captained the family boat. She and her husband participated in numerous activities as members of the Capital City Club, as well.
Carol had a remarkable way of making others feel seen, heard, and loved. Her beauty, charm and elegance were undoubtedly matched by her sharp wit and generous heart. She traveled the world with Harry and their family and friends, often in their cherished vintage airplanes, sharing a love for aviation that became a hallmark of their life together.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 57 years, Harry Greene Ballance, Jr.; her children: Carol Katherine (Katie) Ballance Muir, Laura Ballance May, and Harry Greene Ballance, III; her sons-in-law James Jeffrey Muir, Mark Ryan Wolff, and Peter Samuel May; her daughters-in-law Rhonda Anne Ballance and Jill Wood Wolff; grandchildren Kale Moore, John Muir, Simon May, Dalia May, and August Wolff; great-grandson James Moore; her brother Donald Petersen; and her faithful mini-Golden Doodle, Daisy Ballance.
She is preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Marthe Ballance Wolff; her mother, Edwardine Petersen; and her stepfather, Donald Petersen.
Honorary pallbearers are: Godson Thomas Fuller, Jackie Fuller, TJ Fuller, Camden Fuller, Aulbrey Fuller Drisaldi, and Harriett Kelly. Pallbearers will be: Frank J. Andre, Jr., Frederick Gordon, Leo Roberson, Dan Laney, Henry Quillian, and Cal Tax.
Visitation will be held on Friday, July 18th, from 5 to 7 p.m., at H.M. Patterson – Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, 4550 Peachtree Road, NE, Brookhaven, GA. The funeral service will take place on Saturday, July 19th, at 11 a.m., at Northwest Presbyterian Church, 4300 Northside Drive, NW, Atlanta, GA. A lunch reception will follow, with a procession and graveside service at Crest Lawn Memorial Park, 2000 Marietta Blvd., NW, Atlanta, GA.
Carol's life was a gift to all who knew her. Her laughter, faith, beauty, and grace will forever echo in the hearts of her loving family and many friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Carol K. Ballance Family Foundation, c/o Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite 220, Duluth, Georgia 30097. For online donations, please visit: Carol K. Ballance Foundation | CFNEG.
